Professional Solicitor and Fundraising Counsel Registration

Nonprofit organizations sometimes hire consultants or professional solicitors to handle their fundraising activities.

In most situations, Ohio requires these professionals to register with the Attorney General's Office before starting any fundraising work.

Anyone planning to do business within the State of Ohio using a name other than their own personal name must also register with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.

Items needed prior to completing registration

• Key Personnel Attachment
• Additional Personnel Attachment
• Personnel Holding Positions with Other Organizations Attachment (If applicable)
• Financial Interests in Vendors Involved in the Solicitation Process Attachment (If applicable)
• Disciplinary Actions - Attachment (If applicable)
• Personnel Felonies - Attachment (If applicable)
• $25,000 Surety Bond - Attachment  (Must be printed and signed prior to uploading.)
• $200 filing fee

Please download, complete and save all applicable attachments before filling out the registration form.

Professional solicitor registration

A professional solicitor is any person, group, or other entity that, for compensation, requests donations of money, property, financial assistance or any other thing of value with the representation that the donations, or a portion of the donations, will benefit a charitable organization or will be used for a charitable purpose.

Prior to engaging in any charitable solicitations in Ohio, every professional solicitor must register with the Attorney General’s office.  The registration shall be for one year, or part of one year, and will expire on March 31st of each year. 

 

Fundraising counsel registration

A fundraising counsel is any person, group, or other entity that is hired by a charitable organization to plan, manage, advise, consult, or prepare material for the solicitation of contributions by any charitable organization.  A fundraising counsel does not solicit contributions or employ, procure, or otherwise engage any compensated person to solicit contributions.

This registration form must be completed by a fundraising counsel only if it will collect or at any time have custody of charitable contributions from a solicitation conducted in Ohio.  The registration shall be for one year, or part of one year, and will expire on March 31st of each year.